THE TROUT LINE
Tualatin Valley Chapter News
February/March 2007
Chapter Meetings are held at the LUCKY
LABRADOR on the second Wednesday of
each month and STARTING MARCH at 6:30 PM with a
social get-together and the formal meeting at 7:00 PM
unless otherwise noted in the newsletter or website. Lucky
Labrador, Multnomah Village, 7675 SW Capitol Hwy.
Portland, (503) 244-2537. Food and Beverages available.
Board of Directors Meetings held on the fourth Wednesday
of the month at a Directors home at 7pm.
Wednesday February 14 Catching
the Difficult Trout with Ed Engle
Many of you who are familiar with Ed Engle from his books
and numerous fly fishing and fly tying articles know of his
special affinity for small fly tactics and techniques. In his
30 plus years of angling throughout the continental United
States and abroad, he's had ample opportunity to test his
theories against many difficult trout. Now he makes his
presentation to us, in a program that is full of new ideas for
catching those trout that leave most fly fishers scratching
their heads. These could be the ultra-selective, highly-
educated fish found in heavily-fished public waters or they
could be the trout in your favorite stream that just happen
to have an “attitude” on a particular afternoon. This
program explains the importance of your approach and
casting position, slack line casts, the use of small flies,
using spent spinners as attractors, terrestrials as attractors,
how to match the riseform and the hatch, and fishing the
zones where trout are feeding. In addition, the program
covers crucial equipment checks that will help you land
difficult-to-catch trout once you do hook them.
Ed appears courtesy of a joint sponsorship effort between
Stonefly Maidens (women's fly fishing club) and Tualatin
Valley TU. For this special Valentine's Day program, both
clubs will meet together. This program is free and open to
the public. For more information about Stonefly Maidens,
go to stoneflymaidens.org. For more information about Ed
Engle, go to www.anglerscovey.com/engle.htm.
7PM SOCIAL & MEETING AT 7:30.
Wednesday, March 14 The Invasion
Continues. Phil Hager presents the growing
threat to our watershed posed by invasive non-native
species.
Tui chubs, whirling disease, rock snot; these are but a
handful of the new bad things man is both intentionally
and inadvertently introducing into our native waters. Phil
Hager serves as the Federation of Fly Fishers Oregon
Council VP of conservation and communication, with
Editor: David Illig
special interest in the biological and entomological studies
of invasive species. He’s dedicated his efforts to raising our
awareness of these growing threats. His presentation
focuses on the invasive species that are in Oregon waters,
provides photographic examples of what to look for in the
waters we fish and explores the impact these invasive
species have on our fishing and what we can do to help
slow their spread.
SOCIAL @ 6:30 and MEETING @ 7:00
President’s Column
Hank Hosfield Two months
ago I made an appeal to our
membership to donate money to
our chapter to fund our annual
operating costs. I’m very pleased
to report that your response has
been everything we hoped for. Donations continue to come
in and we are already within reach of our fundraising goal.
It’s very gratifying to receive this kind of support. It speaks
well for our mission and our membership. Truly, thanks to
everyone. Your generous contributions allow us to focus
more of our attention and energy on conservation efforts
and less on fundraising.
And already you are receiving the benefits. For instance,
for our upcoming February meeting we have been able to
bring in Ed Engle to speak. Ed is one of the more highly
sought-after fly fishing experts. Coming all the way from
Colorado, special circumstances made it possible for us to
get him. A big part of that equation is the co-sponsorship
of the Stonefly Maidens fly fishing club. They came to us
with the idea to jointly host this meeting and invite Ed
Engle, who was already going to be in Portland for the new
Fly Fishing Show at the convention center. (More on that
later.) The Stonefly Maidens are a women’s fly fishing club
that usually meets at the Iron Horse the same night of the
month that our chapter meets. Some of their members are
also members of our chapter, so holding a joint meeting
actually offers some members their first opportunity to
participate in both clubs. Their club is coming over to our
side of town for our February 14th meeting. We’re well
aware that this is Valentine’s Day, and people may have
other engagements, but we’re still expecting a good
turnout. We’ve even reserved a bartender for the bar
upstairs. We even considered offering an all-you-can-eat
pizza and salad buffet, which the Lucky Lab makes
available for about ten dollars a head for groups of 25 or
more. That’s something we may consider doing in the
future. Also at this meeting we will have a special raffle for
Casting for Recovery. Of course, we also have Ed Engle
presenting his program on tactics for difficult trout. This is

the only time he’ll be doing this program, as he won’t be
doing it at any sportsmen’s shows. And this is probably the
only time our club will ever be able to invite Ed to TVTU, for
without sharing the cost with another club we couldn’t
afford him.
You hopefully noticed on this page that we have made an
adjustment in our meeting schedules starting MARCH. We
are moving things a half hour earlier in response to
people’s desire to get home at a more reasonable hour. We
start with our social time at 6:30 and our meeting begins
promptly at 7pm.
Also coming in February is the new Fly Fishing Show I
mentioned above. It’s being put on by the same outfit that
does the big show in Seattle, and you can get all of the info
about it at www.flyfishingshow.com. This two-day event to
be held on February 17-18 at the Convention Center
features a host of seminars and noted experts, as well as a
lot of free swag, including some incredible daily door prizes
like trips to Belize, Patagonia, Montana, etc. Then next
month you’ll want to attend the Northwest Fly Tyer & Fly
Fishing Expo being held March 9-10 at the Linn County
Expo Center in Albany. This new two-day event is an
expanded format of the very popular NW Fly Tyer Expo that
has been held in Eugene. It is still sponsored by the Oregon
Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers and will still have
the big auction on Saturday night, and some 160-plus
expert fly tyers demonstrating their craft. New to this years
show are the commercial exhibitors and the added fly
fishing seminars. We are very fortunate to live in an area
where there are so many really sensational fly tyers. This is
an amazing event—especially in that it offers such a front
row seat to meet and learn from these masters. Even if you
don’t tie flies yet, it’s worth it just to talk with them
because they’re also such accomplished anglers.
As if all this weren’t enough, those eager to learn more
about fly fishing also have a new internet radio broadcast
they can tune in to hear at www.askaboutflyfishing.com.
Hosted by Don Bishop and D. Roger Maves, they feature a
wide variety of guest speakers and topics on all kinds of fly
fishing. Trout Unlimited is also one of their sponsors, and
people who catch the live broadcasts can win some
excellent fly fishing merchandise. If you miss the live show,
you can find it later in their archives. I’ve caught a couple
shows so far since I first heard about their launch a few
months ago and really enjoyed them. They’re all about
promoting fly fishing and conservation. They even put our
club information on their Web site.
I know, this column has been very fly fishing heavy, but
one of the first things that people come to our club for is to
learn more about fishing. Angler education is part of our
mission. It is most often through fishing that people
become more involved in protecting the resource.
Tight lines, Hank
“To Conserve, Protect, And Restore North America’s Cold Water Fisheries And Their Watersheds”
2
TU Volunteers needed for the
Sportmens’s Show Feb 7-11. 4 hour
shifts. Free entry. Several for the Fly
Fishing Show 17/18 as well. Contact
Tom Wolf, Chair Oregon Council Trout Unlimited
503-640-2123 tmilowolf@msn.com
Fly of the Month: Mike’s Big Bang
Michael Gentry
In recent years I've taken up lake fishing. There's something
quite peaceful about floating in still water in a tube or
pontoon boat. And when the tranquility is broken by a
violent hit from a big fish, the excitement begins. For
subsurface action, the best pattern I've developed to entice
those big boys is a Chironomid I call Mike's Big Bang. The
distinguishing feature is a body made from an overlooked
portion of a pheasant tail feather. We're all familiar with
the standard Pheasant Tail and other nymph patterns that
use the common, dark brown barred fibers on a rooster tail.
However, on a number of larger tail feathers one side of the
feather is made up of the usual dark brown fibers, but the
other side of the tail feather shaft sports lighter, grayish or
gray-tannish mottled strands. Those are the secret
ingredient of the Big Bang. The fly is simple in design and
easy to tie.
Thread: ………………...Black uni-thread 8/0
Hook:…………….….….Tiemco 100BL #14
Tail and front gill:….. Betts Z-lon, standard #9 - white
Body: …………………..Strands of mottled pheasant tail
fiber
Ribbing:…………………Fine copper wire
1. Attach the thread about 1/16" back from the eye and
wind about halfway back toward the bend of the hook.
2. Take a strand of Z-lon about 1 1/2" long and with a
bobbin divide the strands into two roughly equal bunches
(this is a thin fly and the tail and front gill shouldn't be too
fat).
3. Affix one of the Z-lon bunches on top of the hook shank
at the midpoint of the Z-lon, so that plenty of Z-lon extends
back past the bend in the hook and also forward beyond
the hook eye - that gives something to grasp and cut the
tail and gill to length after the fly is finished.
4. Bind the Z-lon to the hook shank with thread wraps from
the start of the hook bend to several thread widths short of
the eye.
5. Bind the copper wire ribbing at the back of the thread
wrap, at the start of the hook bend.
6. With your fingers, fan and smooth the mottled pheasant
tail fibers perpendicular to the feather shaft - this will allow
you to locate and use batches of fibers that are long and
sturdy.
7. Pinch your fingers on both sides of a good patch of
fibers, with your fingers about 1/2" from the feather shaft.
That allows you to take a small scissors and clip, at the
feather shaft, about a 1/4" wide patch of fibers (probably
about 6-7; the size of the tail feather and the length of the
individual fibers will vary but after a few tries you'll get a
sense of how many fibers you need to wind the body of the
fly.

8. Holding the fibers near their fat end, tie down the tip
ends at the bend of the fly, and wind clockwise (same
direction as the thread winding) to about 1/16" from the
eye.-- the idea is to wrap one layer of strands, not to
overwrap the strands on themselves - gives a sleek body
and uniform (not bulgy) shape. And if you've misjudged
and didn't get enough strands (or they weren't long
enough) to wrap that bunch to the finish point, all is not
lost - just lash off where you are with two turns of thread,
cut another bunch, tie in the tips and continue winding.
9. Wind the ribbing counterclockwise around the body
(holds the body fibers that way) to the thread-point near
the eye, and tie off. Clip off any excess fibers.
10. Finish with a black thread head about as thick as the
body. To tie off, I find it easier and better to lift up the
front gill tag with my fingers and throw three half-hitches
at the eye---under the gill tag.
11. I finish the head with a tiny drop of head cement.
12. Holding the tail and gill by their tag ends, clip each to
about 1/8"
I started fooling around with chironomid patterns several
years ago after fishing the lakes for three or four years. I
was looking for a material that had a more subtle look than
some of the standard patterns, and decided to try out the
mottled pheasant fibers. I was not prepared for the
increase in fishy interest the new pattern generated. I'd
had good success on some of the Antone lakes with more
standard patterns, but the takes were gentler and more
subtle. So after breaking off the first three fish on the take
(they did the taking with violent hits), I took a deep breath,
lit my pipe, re-rigged from 5X to 3X, and took six or seven
'bows in the 5-6# range as well as some smaller cousins.
It's been my consistent go-to pattern ever since, particularly
in the late afternoon and early evening when there isn't any
surface activity. I found the fly effective from just below
the surface to 5 or so feet down (I haven't really tried to
work it deeper since it rarely made it that deep). On a
number of occasions the take is just after the fly hits. I
generally work it in fairly slow short retrieves of four five
inches. Try it - - but hold on!
MichaelGentry04@comcast.net
Check out BREAKING NEWS at our
web site
WWW.TVTROUTUNLIMITED.com
“To Conserve, Protect, And Restore North America’s Cold Water Fisheries And Their Watersheds”
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Steelheading as an Act of Faith
Marcus Hahnemann
The annual family steelhead pilgrimage approached with
less anticipation this year. Fishing had been tough 12
months earlier. High water finally retreated to a fishable
condition only hours before that trip, but the unseasonably
balmy conditions prompted hordes of anglers to descend
on our precious little river. Their fishing fever had begun to
boil from being denied their own various outings for weeks,
resulting in fierce competition for the steel resource.
We had actually heard two-way radios blaring between
buddies who were announcing to each other, and the rest
of us, that they had found this run or that hole open,
urging the other to hurry up and squeeze in, because
heaven forbid anyone else should have the opportunity.
Fishing was exceptionally difficult, as well, partially due to
the amount of pressure to be sure, but few fish were being
hooked, per capita or otherwise. There just didn’t seem to
be as many fish. We speculated that the run had been early,
and a massive migration rode the high water all the way
upstream to the refuge of the river’s wintering grounds. It
helped to imagine overhearing one of the radio’s squawks
go silent in a gurgling swirl due to a fatal wading error, or,
perhaps, some other… ‘mishap’.
Collectively, we travel a few thousand miles to make this
gathering come off. Weather patterns this time of year can
break a fishing trip, and the next season-ending cold front
seems to always be lurking in the shadows and haunting
our nights as each trip nears. Yet, invariably, we pull the
trigger and, months in advance, book the flights, reserve
the cabin, and tie the flies. It’s an act of faith.
Steelhead fishing is, by nature, an act of faith. Unlike when
chasing trout, when you know there are fish in the given
riffle or run, and with few exceptions it’s simply a matter of
teasing out a strike with proper presentation and fly,
steelhead fishing requires a belief that there is, in fact, at
least one fish within casting distance. This belief is that
much harder to hold when low water conditions seem to
expose the river and its bed of secrets. (Surely some fish
would be visible – if there were any.)
The nearest steelhead might be more than a river mile
away, but without that confidence, there may as well not be
a fish in the entire watershed even when a pod is holding in
the pool at your feet. Only rarely does an angler ‘just get
lucky’ while steelhead fishing. They might not be the
smartest fish to ever swim and spawn, but steelhead
definitely seem to be particular to a proper presentation.
And a proper presentation requires work. And work
requires focus. And focus requires the belief that this cast –
each cast - will be the one.
Some steelhead anglers just believe – they are able to focus
for countless hours or days, with each drag-free drift an
effective effort that might be rewarded. Each pause of the
strike indicator is worth a hook-set because this time it
probably really is a fish and not just another gear-gobbling
boulder or snag. These confident anglers are the most
successful, and the success becomes its own reinforcement.
On the other end of the confidence

spectrum, it has, at times, been necessary for my strike
indicator to actually begin moving upstream before I’ll set
the hook for what seems like the ten-thousandth time.
Some can sense a disturbance in the Force. At times like
these, I need Obi-Wan to tell me when Nature calls.
This year, admittedly, I was losing faith. The cold weather
(below-freezing temperatures until nearly noon), coupled
with record low water. Memories of last year’s ordeal.
Unpromising reports. The novelty had worn off. What was
left? Besides uncertainty, I, for one, wasn’t sure.
There was much less traffic on the river this year due to the
harsher conditions. Fishing was slow, though we heard
some positive reports, including one angler mid-week who,
while pulling on his waders, casually mentioned that he had
hooked seven fish the day before. This is sometimes good,
sometimes bad, news. I had not yet hooked a fish. I rarely
greet this kind of news with enthusiasm when I am eating a
big ‘zero’ bagel for the trip.
We crossed paths with this particular gentleman several
times that day. He was positively forthcoming with his
views on fly patterns, water to fish, techniques. My brother
thought him a blowhard, but I had learned one thing that
my brother had not. This blowhard was the originator of
the most popular fly pattern used for steelhead in the
region. I sensed that he knew what he was talking about,
and tried to listen to his sage advice.
As daylight waned, my confidence continued arcing toward
its own paling sunset. I had just arrived at the outside of a
broad, deep and slow-flowing bend. Boulders armored the
outer bank against the current, their layered hard backs
disappearing into the tea-colored depths. There was room
for two, and my brother had already begun fishing from the
inside of the bend.
A voice emerged from the gathering dusk, seemingly from
the river itself. The steelhead guru was passing by silently
on the river path behind me one last time. He suggested
that I cast again to the water near the bank, which I had
just flogged with the nymphing equivalent of a false cast.
I doubted him. The river channel clearly formed a classic v-
shaped trough through the full length of the bend. Any fish
in this stretch would be sitting in the dark depths of that
‘V’. There definitely would not be any fish in the boulders of
“To Conserve, Protect, And Restore North America’s Cold Water Fisheries And Their Watersheds”
4
the shallow outer bank water, where the current was most
swift. I would see them if they were there.
No, he said, closer. I actually became a little annoyed and
explained the “classic v-shaped trough theory”. He
acknowledged the validity of the “classic v-shaped trough
theory”, but then, in turn, patiently explained that the
steelhead also sit and rest in those boulders in the evening
after they come up through that fast water. He pointed
downstream.
The bend flowed through a tailout that spilled over a break
with a short chute followed by a broadening riffle. Closer,
he said. The first cast that actually followed his directive
landed less than five feet from the bank. My strike indicator
slowed as the soft-hackle caddis emerger dropped among
the boulders, dragging against the slower current below. I
swear that I heard him say, “There…” before the strike
indicator paused. I dutifully, but doubtfully, set the hook,
and felt that strong, slightly yielding resistance of a living
fish.
Is there any rush so simultaneously subtle and sublime?
Call him a sage, call him a guru, call him a jedi, priest,
monk or rabbi. This guide helped me find my faith.
He did not, however, help me land that fish. He made two
rather clumsy attempts upon which the steelhead decided
to clear out for greener, more distant pastures. A third
attempt by my brother more than 50 yards downstream
brought the beautiful, hard-charging steelhead to the bank.
The next day we explored some new water, identified two
likely river bends, and fishing them hard, I was rewarded
with three more strong steelhead.
The confidence, and my faith, was back. Marcus
Book Review: A Passion for
Steelhead, by Dec Hogan
Reviewed by Chet Zimmer
Like all people who are stubborn enough to pursue
steelhead on a fly, I consume any material on the subject
that I can get my hands on. I’m a self-admitted junkie. So,
it was a great surprise to receive this book as an early
holiday present from my girlfriend. More important than
any tactic, technique, or tip presented (and there are
countless, valuable gems), the prevailing message Dec
Hogan relates superbly, is the value of the experience, and
the reasons we enjoy being out there, even on days when
we never touch a fish. Although the book arrived too late
to help with my summer run endeavors - and I generally
view winter steelhead fishing on the fly to be an (almost)
hopeless pursuit - I am feeling inspired to chase ol’
metalhead this winter with a newfound confidence.
Read this book. It captures the true essence of Trout
Unlimited and our dual goals of promoting stewardship

while doing what we love. You will find specific insights to
help you catch more fish, and you will find equal food for
thought on how lucky we are to be outside on our favorite
Northwest rivers, pursuing fish. The book is literally an
encyclopedia for steelhead fly fisherman. But it’s also a
thoughtful and entertaining read; one I wouldn’t
recommend before bedtime unless you can sleep with
steelhead fishing on the brain.
What makes this book different? It is detailed, and
technical, but also easy to understand if you’ve spent even
a few days on the water stalking steelies. You want to
know how he positions the rod during every second of the
swing? It’s in here. Always wondered what that small
pluck was as your fly meandered across the holding water?
Hogan has watched thousands of steelhead chase down a
fly from high up on the bank overlooking his clients’ runs.
He goes into great detail on this subject, with diagrams
about different takes, how they feel to the angler, and what
he’s seen from a vantage point above the water. He also
explains how to get those uncooperative fish back to your
fly. Certain types of near-hookups are destined to be just
that, a tease from a fish that will never return – again,
insight that is a result of countless days of watching fish
behavior. Does he still re-cast, or change flies for these
fish, definitely. It is part of the fun, and frustration that
comes with being a steelhead fly fisher.
As one of the foremost experts on spey fishing for
steelhead, Hogan makes it clear that the two-handed
approach results in covering more water, more effectively,
with more fish to your fly. The nitty gritty details on spey
casting, mending, and hooking fish are all here. But the
book is not an overwhelming experience to read – these are
actionable, simple tips, and I really feel like it is going to
help me the next time I’m on the water. For those who
prefer to fish single-handed rods, and I sometimes do, the
information still translates into advice you will use.
There are chapters on fly selection, fishing with floating
lines and sinking lines, winter fish, and chasing the spring
runs on our coast. I guess I should backtrack a bit and say
that he also opens up the book with a great look at where
our native steelhead are born, how they survive the first
few years, and what they eat in the ocean. It’s a good
meandering story, and one that points out the importance
of habitat, the threats facing our native fish, and how
incredibly lucky we are to have steelhead in our state.
I love catching steelhead on the fly - that’s what this book is
about. Savoring the pursuit of these fish, realizing the
friendships you’ve made from days on the water, feeling
humbled when you catch one of these magnificent
creatures, these are the simple reminders that Dec Hogan
has captured and communicated in a magnificent book.
Chet
TU Fishing Outings
Deschutes River Maupin March 24 or 25
Contact Andy Glen.Andrews@valero.com
503 969 2246
“To Conserve, Protect, And Restore North America’s Cold Water Fisheries And Their Watersheds”
5
Fishing Class: On the very same weekend as our
outing, Rick Hafele and John Smeraglio are offering a
special workshop on the Deschutes River, March 24 & 25,
2007entitled: Fly Fishing the Deschutes and other Western
Rivers. In Maupin, Saturday, March 24, 2007 from 5pm to
9pm Sunday, March 25, 2007 from 9am to 4pm Class
includes dinner Saturday night followed by slide show and
discussion on the keys to fishing western rivers. Sunday
begins with a detailed presentation about western hatches
and trout foods (how to recognize them, and how to select
the flies that match them). After lunch you will spend the
afternoon on the Deschutes River and learn first hand how
to select the right flies and how to present them. Rick and
John are two of the most respected and experienced fly-
fishing instructors in the West, and this is a great chance to
pick their brains!
Cost: $130/person (includes dinner Saturday and lunch
Sunday)
Registration: Contact Deschutes Canyon Fly Shop (toll free:
1-866-647-4721) or at john@flyfishingdeschutes.com
Class size limited. Pre-registration required by March 1st,
2007. Combine this with TU outing for a great weekend.
Remember to Sign up New Members to
Trout Unlimited. It’s a great bargain for what they
get. Especially at the half-off introductory membership at
$17.50 Lots of people aren’t members who would enjoy it.
We still get something for new member signups. New
members can sign up at www.tu.org/intro and entering
code 633 for Tualatin Valley chapter. If they prefer a paper
membership application, contact Erle to send it to them.
“Why Wild?” Web Site
Please take a few moments when you get an opportunity to
visit and click through TU’s new Pacific salmon and
steelhead website, www.whywild.org. Increasingly, we
are trying to link together our habitat, hydropower,
hatcheries and harvest work to strengthen our effectiveness
for Pacific salmon and steelhead, wherever they swim.
Further, and perhaps even more importantly, we’re trying to
link our staff work with our membership, and to join our
strengths to further our mission more effectively. As you’ll
see, we are just getting things rolling on this site, and that
is where you can help.
If you visit the “TU People” section, for example, you can
see text and photos from the Tualatin Valley Chapter’s
project on Pegleg Falls on the Collawash River here in
western Oregon. We’d like to spotlight other chapter’s
projects too, so let me know when you have a nice brief
write-up and good photos like these and I will get them
posted. The TU People section is YOUR section, so it can be
largely up to you and your chapter how it takes shape.
Lastly, take a look at the TUPOV, TU Point-of-View section,
accessible through the home page link. This will be your
monthly chance to see what TU staff is working on, why
we’re doing it, and what’s ahead. Currently, you’ll notice
this update is limited to Portland office staff. We

will be adding staff updates gradually from our other
Pacific salmon and steelhead offices, until we’ve got them
all or I died trying. That means staff in California, Alaska,
Idaho, and wherever else TU pops up in between.
6
Thank you for including me in Reel Recovery. It was one of
the most rewarding and emotional experiences of my life. A
participant

We’ll leave it there. This site is new, experimental, and
subject to change depending on how the winds of opinion,
reaction, effectiveness and feedback blow. So let us know
your thoughts. Thanks. Alan Moore / Trout Unlimited
503.827.5700 x. 10
The Big K Guest Ranch will again be the location for the
Oregon Reel Recovery Retreat in 2007. Dates are August
22-24, 2007. I encourage everyone to learn more about Reel
Recovery by going to www.reelrecovery.org, talking to me at
an upcoming meeting or phoning me at phone number or E-
mail address shown below

We are accepting applications for cancer survivor

participants and volunteer Fishing Buddies. Such
TVTU Members Can Help Men applications are available at www.reelrecovery.org or I am
happy to get those to you.
Fighting Cancer By Bob Bernard
Reel Recovery is a 501(c) (3) non-profit. Our Oregon Retreat
Last August I had the honor and satisfaction of being event costs $8,500 or $700 per participant. The Retreat is
coordinator and fishing buddy for men fighting cancer. I completely free to the participants – Reel Recovery covers
did so at the first ever Reel Recovery Oregon Retreat held all lodging, meals and fishing equipment. Funding comes
at the Big K Guest Ranch near Elkton, Oregon. This was the from individual donations and organization grants. On
fourth time I participated at a Reel Recovery retreat, having behalf of the men fighting cancer, I ask our members
helped previously while living in Colorado. Reel Recovery donate to Reel Recovery.
is a 4-year old national non-profit organization that
conducted 12 retreats in 10 states in 2006 and will be We can use not only financial contributions, but hundreds
expanding to 15 in 2007. Reel Recovery retreats can be a of flies as well. To assist participants at all retreats we are
life-changing experience for men battling cancer. The accepting donations. We need 14 Wading Staffs-collapsible,
program is designed to be both inspirational and reflective, 14 Rain Jackets-various sizes, 8 Walkie Talkies, Waterproof
to develop group camaraderie as well as individual skills. Digital Camera, New Laptop Computer, Frequent Flyer Miles
and Auction Items.
“Fishing can heal the mind. Talking and sharing can ease
the pain: A participant Please contact me for more information. Robert L.
Bernard (ph) 503.239.8507 or E-mail
An important facet to participants is the emphasis on bearbernard@yahoo.com
relaxed and open interactions. They participate in
“Courageous Conversations” facilitated by a counseling Best Wishes and Fish On!
professional, to foster communication and sharing life-
stories. For many of the men, this is the only environment
they have felt it OK to share their feelings, be open, express
their successes and concerns. As a volunteer staff member,
I experienced heartfelt emotions of seeing men come into a
retreat being withdrawn and scared and then see them
become open, laughing, talking, learning, energized and
feel better about themselves and those important to them.
These retreats build a bond and network leading to
friendships and support. Further, they teach fly-fishing
techniques, skills the men can use for the remainder of
their lives.

At every Reel Recovery retreat, experienced fly-fishers from

the local community are invited to be volunteer Fishing
Buddies, to give one-on-one assistance to the participants
during the fishing portions of the retreat. More than a
guide, the Buddy’s role is to be a companion with whom a
cancer survivor share their story, as well as experience the
values of fly-fishing, i.e., learn a new skill, form a healing
connection with nature and participate in a sport they can
continue throughout their recovery and lifetime. During
that time on the stream, Reel Recovery helps men have an
emotional getaway from their disease.

“The greatest gift is what you can give of yourself.” Stewart

Brown at the first ever Reel Recovery Retreat in Loveland.

“To Conserve, Protect, And Restore North America’s Cold Water Fisheries And Their Watersheds”
 7
Breaking the Code
UPCOMING Newsletter Material
We need material for upcoming issues Or just send some
We stand on high while nice pictures you have. We need your input, please. Thanks
to the new contributors
below coho circle frenzied, Dillig1@aol.com 296 9050
toward an ancient code
disrupted
Officers and Board
President: Hank Hosfield
Now up against a wall, 228-6553 hankh@imagina.com
they pummel in resistance Vice President Communications Paige Wallace
disbelieving its existence 503-803-9466 flyfishgirl@hotmail.com
Treasurer Erle Norman 293-6006
could wipe out all they know caddis2000@hotmail.com
Membership Chair
Board of Directors:
in Eric Thompson 297-0718
r anglingeric@msn.com
Dick Rohrbaugh
i rbaugh@lclark.edu 636-3877
v David Illig Newsletter editor
296 9050 dillig1@aol.com
e Alex Barkume - 642-7024
r alexbarkume@comcast.net
b Andy Andrews Outings
Glen.Andrews@valero.com 969 2246
e Jerry Heppell
d gheppell5@verizon.net 639-9408
Robert L. Bernard 503-239-8507
s bearbernard@yahoo.com

whose rapids they once met

with chinook

Instead
they greet an angry turbine
impassive as it knows
the code within their souls

before Bonneville
informed these salmon spirits
reengineered their fate
to come to this unnatural end

more final than before.

- Karla Powell -

“To Conserve, Protect, And Restore North America’s Cold Water Fisheries And Their Watersheds”
 Tualatin Valley Trout Unlimited
February/ March 2007